Friday, October 17, 2014

You left today…finally! It’s been
precisely three months since you first broke the news. The news that your
husband is being relocated to London and you will move there for good. At first, I didn’t quite believe you…your sporadic
pranks are to be accused. But in due course, as you shared the development and
the ensuing planning, I was sure about the move…Damn! It was true….very much….and
although it took me a while to get attuned to the fact, somewhere I was preparing
myself for this farewell.

As days passed by, you got busy
with all the formalities, kids’ vaccinations, visas, and so on and so forth.
Gosh! It’s a agony to shift and double of it to shift to an overseas location. But
you handled everything so well and with such great gusto…yeah…yeah! London it
is, after all! And having spent a few months in UK, I know how it feels when
such an opportunity just knocks the doors!

After all the essential
formalities came very significant task…Yaayyyyyy! The S word…..Shopping. We
shopped and shopped and shopped….everything that we could think of. You name it
and we bought it. I loved carrying those M&S, Zara, Mango shopping bags
around while you walked like a duchess….that’s one business I would never dislike!

I still reminisce the first time
I met you. Our sons shared the same class last year and we ended up being a
part of the same whatsapp group primarily created to exchange the school
related notes and other communications. Out of 30 odd members, a bunch of
around 5-6 grew awfully closer through the chats and considering the fact that
we had never met, we decided to meet over a coffee. After casual greetings,
just as we were settling down in the coffee shop, I saw you getting out of your
car in a chick salwar suit with high heeled sandals. Your hair were duly done
up and eyes lined up with kohl giving a boost to your personality. Yes, you looked
no less than a royalty as you walked up the stairs. By the end of that meet, I
had formed my opinions about everyone and especially you. I didn’t think that I
could ever be friends with you in spite meeting you couple of more times in the
school. And that’s the whole point……how did I ever reach a point in my life
where you became my besssttteeessssttttt friend ever. It’s been a little over a
year but it feels like we’ve known each other since ages. You can literally
read my mind and vice versa. You can instantaneously guess my reactions to circumstances.
You can lift me up when I am low. You and only you can handle my idiocy and occasional
mood swings and still love me. You turned out to be a major part of my life…literally….or
shall we say a sister from another mother….!!

And today you’re gone such far
away. I recognize that technology has abridged the distance deeply…but I am
still gonna miss those never-ending chats until wee hours in the morning. Those
shopping trips exploring the bylanes of Pali Hill, Linking Road and Lokhandwala
markets. Those whole-hearted laughs in rains over paani-puris, those little
things you did for my kids, and those kiddies get-togethers we organized to
sneak a chance to spend time together. Huuhhhhhh! (A long sigh) I am gonna miss
all this. I am gonna miss you, BFF!

I wish you all the best for this
move and a new chapter in your life…! Loads of love to your chipmunks! I am
going to miss them too! I am ending this letter with a wonderful quote I found on Google....

Monday, August 18, 2014

Seriously, it’s been a heck of a
lifetime since I last updated my blog. Yes, I’ve been busy with my hands full
but that still doesn’t justify the reason for not updating the blog…especially
when I am so passionate and possessive about it. Well, to put it in a nutshell, lots of things happened over the last 4+ odd months.

My son’s Thread Ceremony
was quite an elaborate affair with dear friends and family attending it in
Goa. Me and Chetan tried to play perfect hosts ensuring that everyone is duly
taken care of. It was a fun week meeting all the family and friends under one
roof. New friends were made, new relations formed and I am glad everyone had a
great time. By the time, it all got over, we were so exhausted and that’s when
our quick vacation to Himalayan Village, Sonapani (Yes, we are simply in love
with that place and we WILL continue to go there…over and over….) came to the
rescue. Ashish and Deepa played perfect hosts making sure we totally unwind
before we were ready to face our mundane routine back. This brief vacation was
a much needed rescue to our tired souls and exhausted bodies. Kids had fun too…for
the first time in their lives, they had witnessed something absolutely
breathtaking. Plucking fresh fruits like apricots, peaches, pears straight from
the trees and eating them. Well, honestly, it’s something even me and Chetan
had done for the first time, too!

Come mid-June and we were back to
our routine. The kid’s vacation time got over and before I could blink my eyes,
they were already back to school….in Second Grade! That’s another thing I just
can’t bring myself to term with….the rate at which kids are growing. It feels
just yesterday when I dropped and picked them up from their Nursery across the street
and here they are…all grown up…already in their Second Grade. I guess, that’s
something I will have to live for the rest of my life…although they grow
bigger, smarter and better with each day…somewhere deep down, I still wish for
those babies still in the diapers, crawling on the floor just longing for
attention.

The weekends are just fleeting by….they
just don’t exist beyond the normal grocery shopping, a visit to the market for
veggies, the weekly laundry, lunches/dinners out or a movie. Oh! I just realized
that I pretty much covered everything what one is actually supposed (???) to do
over the weekend. Basically, we both like to do almost the similar things so
there’s hardly any debate over the choices as how to spend the weekend.
However, with my growing bundles of joy, it’s more like a juggling happening.
My son is more like a peace lover. If given a choice, he would spend the entire
day at home lying on the couch or on his iPad than stepping out with us. My daughter
is more of an attention seeker. She’s totally me. Fun loving, outgoing, don’t-like-to-be-trapped-at-home
kinda. Hence, juggling between son’s preferences and daughter’s choices is a
bit of a challenge for us these days. But I guess, if we manage tactfully, we
can still steal a few more years to dictate our terms and get the things moving….So,
here’s to parenting….parenting of the Twins…parenting of Twins with different
choices!

And just before I say bye...Here’s
a short incident that happened at a Mall yesterday where we spent our leisurely
Sunday evening. While the boys stood in the line for the movie ticket, daughter
and I decided to just sit and watch people. We happened to grab a seat bang opposite
the store ‘Lifestyle’… After she watched consistently at it, she just popped a
question out of nowhere… “Mamma, why are some people going in that Lifestyle
while some choose not to go?” I was a bit startled at her out-of-nowhere-question and before
I could collect some ideas to answer it to her satisfaction…she just screamed… “Oh!
I know it… The people with Style in their Life, go in the Lifestyle and people
who have no Style in their Life, choose not to go in the Lifestyle…” OMG…I didn’t
know how to react to it….but the lady sitting next to me, certainly did. She
stood up and extended a warm handshake with my daughter and said..”Young Lady,
I don’t know about the people you are referring to…but you certainly will have
lot of Style in your Life…” While she left with her own sweet daughter, I
couldn’t help see my daughter blushing at her remarks….

Love you Akshat & Aashvi...here's a birthday song I found that I am sure you'll enjoy watching....:-)

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Yes, it's really been quite a long time! However hard I attempt to stick to my pursuit of updating my
blog regularly, I, one way or another, fail to stick to this commitment! More
than you, I should be seeking my own mercy which doesn't sound that cool!

Things have been stirring at a melodramatically faster pace.
Although, we let go of the plan to shift home for the time being, there are
oodles of other tasks that were nippy enough to brawl for the top slots on the
to-do list. For those who are not aware, we have planned (or rather still
planning) a function in Goa to mark the Thread Ceremony of our son. We
hope to keep it quite a homely and private event as he isn't too comfortable amongst too many unaccustomed faces. And because it’s HIS day, we have
made it obvious to respect HIS feelings. It’s in May, and I am already dreading about how hot and humid Goa will be by then considering I've already had an extreme spat with it just this weekend. With all that holy fire
around, the people and the weather…God help me in dealing with my little man!
Trust me; he’s one hell of a monster when it comes to crowd, heat and rush!

Planning, as I said, is still underway. Just finalized the venue
decorator this weekend and I must say man...it does cost a bomb! However, many things are still in the To-Do list. Hubby is no good when it comes to assisting in all these
matters. I am glad he lent a hand while dealing with the most important
task…the saree shopping! I guess, he feels that it’s the only agenda that takes such a function to its own sweet end. And Hubby, if you are reading this…No, it doesn't…there are million other stuffs that I am single-handedly dealing with and
you have absolutely no idea about…..(Well, I can say, I prefer to keep it that way....remember the old saying? Too many cooks spoil the dish??? Yes, exactly.... :-)

Kids are back in school with a brand new academic year…a sleek new
classroom, new friends and most prominently new teachers. Daughter is pretty
excited and happy with her new teacher…well, Son takes time to adjust to
anything that’s new and a new teacher is just another human…wish she had a
remote control with her to tickle his ‘interest’ bones!

One advantage about not moving the home is you get to keep your
old, obedient and honest staff. I was so anxious about the cycle of
finding-trying-liking-changing-maids and I am so happy that I will not have to
go through it all over again! But yes, kids will spend a little more time in
travelling to school which was the foremost motive behind the decision to move.
I guess for every little pleasure, one has to pay the price. For right now, I
am gratified with wherever I am and I hope that any move, if there is at all,
will be for the better!

Yyyyaaaaaaayyyyy! Its kids’ birthday this weekend. Can’t believe
they’ll be seven! Seven exquisite years spent with them with most beautiful
memories to cherish! They’ll grow bigger and brighter with each passing year
but for me and Hubby, they’ll always be little bundles of joy that were handed
over to us on 12th April, 2007! No one can ever take away that
moment from us! Something that’s too priceless to even share! We have nothing
special planned for them this year but we do want to do whatever they wish on
their special day –even if that means swimming in the beach at 2 o’clock in the
afternoon under sweltering sun! God bless the chipmunks and their weird wishes!

See you soon! Have a great week and then the weekend and then
the week again and then the weekend again……! Well, you know what I mean..:-P

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

With kids’ final exams, come other
associated undertakings like projects, assignments and loads of other stuffs. I
am surely not grouchy about them as I really enjoy myself being a part of these
activities. When I was a kid myself, I remember spending a lot of time and
efforts in researching, collecting pictures, etc. to complete these projects.
Today, life’s become laid-back with Google at our service. At a click,
you get the information, pictures and everything that you need. Jai
Google Baba ki!!

Kids finals are scheduled during the
first week of March and if you are thinking that it would bring some respite to
me…hold that thought right there! There are loads of other activities in
planning stage… shifting into a new place is the first one. And just while we
would be settling down there, approaches their birthday which I have been
‘informed’ would be quite an affair with all their friends from school. Bingo!
After the birthday, it’s time for son’s ‘Thread Ceremony’ which is planned in
Goa in the month of May. So, I’ll be spending a considerate amount of
time in Goa before the function tackling plentiful preparatory
activities. And as Hubby plans to join in just a day prior to the
function, it’ll be a solo show.

After the ceremony, we plan to head
straight to the Himalayas to unwind ourselves after all that hustle bustle.
Yes, we’re heading to The Himalayan Village at Sonapani. Yet
again! Kids just love that place and it was their appeal to spend some time
there which we decided to honour. We have been told by the owners that June is
the best time to visit as their orchards will be thriving with fruits like
peaches, apples, oranges and so many others that kids can enjoy! So, we are
highly looking forward towards this trip. I am, particularly, looking forward
to the peaceful atmosphere, the clear blue sky, the enthralling Himalayas that
I can park myself and watch for hours and the home-cooked and absolutely tasty
meals and deserts. Now that I know the surroundings pretty well, an idea of a
lone and peaceful walk cannot be ruled out, too.

Aaah! I hope that by the time we are back to Aamchi Mumbai, we all are super charged up to resume our daily lives!

Friday, January 31, 2014

“Many a times, I feel totally irritated
sitting with kids and helping them in their studies. My patience is at its peak
when any of them takes a longer time to understand any concept. I get upset
while I am at it but when I tuck them in bed at night, I feel terribly guilty...feel
like a monster mom for not handling the things properly. Gosh...it's like an
emotional turbulence within me. As Moms, are you girls facing the same or it's
just me???”

Yes, I meant every word of it. I am feeling that I am losing
out on something. I am feeling that my patience levels are suddenly dropping. I
have a feeling that I am turning into an insane and oblivious human being….a Monster Mom!

Kids are growing up and so are my duties and accountabilities
as their Mother. They are no longer nappy-happy broods. Their interests are mounting
beyond my judgements. Their hobbies are altering with each fleeting moment.
Their vocabulary is sky scorching every minute. Their reactions, retorts,
jargon, lingo and ever fluctuating moods…their inquisitiveness, their exasperation and their outlook
makes me brood over whether I am sinking in my futile efforts in coping up with
their intensifying sensibilities.

All this strongly makes me believe that I am entering a
second phase of this journey called Motherhood. Kids want to be treated as one of us…more specifically as Adults. They demand
that their opinions be considered while taking any decisions involving them. Their
privacy be respected, their choices be honoured and most importantly they be
treated with lots and lots of esteem.

Things are really changing…or should I say they're already changed beyond one’s imagination. Until I was well past my
schooling, I just don’t recall a single thing bought for me
entirely by my choice…well, my mom always had a final say in
what I would wear, which colour would suit my personality the best, what
hairstyle will look good for my face cut or even whether I should participate
in events at school or not. Well, today, I am being ‘informed’ that a ‘certain’ kind of dress is on the next ‘to-shop’ list, a crave for a McD meal over
weekend or even where to go for the vacations. Whoa! All the innovation in the
technology, the remarkable progress man has made over these years and the exposure
these kids have today is finally taking a toll on Mothers…that’s the final word!

So, here’s to all those brilliant Moms out there
who are screaming their guts out to ensure a childhood their kids will always
be proud of….you rock, Babe! Nothing and no one can
beat what you do!

Saturday, January 4, 2014

Well...this post should have come before the 2013 ended but true to my legacy, I am late with this one...so, please excuse...Sharing here some snaps of our Christmas celebrations. Some of you must have already seen these through Facebook.

Standing in the queue for the fun to begin....

Whoa...I am all for it.. :-)

And the fun begins...

Am I not total Christmassy??

Our favourite!

Some snacks after the games

Thank God for the Frooti!

Such discipline I tell you :-P

What is it that I am missing on?

Our favourite pose :-)

We decorated this.....!

We love this...

Such pleasure..

Isn't it cute?

Singing carols...

I am at my favourite activity....modelling for Mom!

Is this a good pose?

Oh! C'on..I am just tired!

Ornaments at our home..

Merry Christmas

Cute Little Fairy!

So nice...

Isn't it cute?

There are loads of other pictures too but I shall resist my temptation of publishing them all here....But I warn you that you'll see a lot more of my pictures in 2014 as I seriously intent to click and publish some of the best shots....!

I am not somebody who stalwartly
believes in making the resolutions at the commencement of each year. It’s not
that I never practiced so…Of course, I did! However, I soon recognized that
most resolutions meet a disastrous finale….some gets just overlooked over the
period while some just gets out of the memory lane and the lingering ones are
just given a clean miss over other urgencies… In all conscience, I have
experienced all of the above and hence I do not make any resolutions and take
life the way it’s thrown upon me.

We had a fabulous Christmas
vacation with my Mom joining in from Goa. Kids were exhilarated to be with
their Aaji and so did she. Those 10 days were truly remarkable as both of them
could spend some quality time together. Well, as far as I am concerned, I have outdone
the age of being ecstatic at my Mom’s arrival. It’s not that I don’t like her
being around…I certainly do. However, I like to find pleasure in doing things
which at times she doesn’t favour. And the real awkwardness is born when she
finds it tough to express it. My relations with her now are more like soul
mates than mother-daughter. We discuss the entire world under this moon may it
be from her job to my maids to what-she-should-be-wearing-for-a-function….And I
love it that way. Well, I love her and I
wish her a very healthy and happy life.

Now that the schools have
resumed, I am back to the grind….and so are the kids. I am hoping that 2014 will motivate me harder
to keep up to writing and updating my blog in addition to my other assignments.

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Finally watched ‘TheLunchbox’. Since I saw
the trailors of the movie, I wanted to catch it anyhow. Besides, the entire cast
of the film was just fuelling up my desire further. I love Irrfan Khan. His
acting has always charmed me right from the Badrinath/Somnath
Twin characters he played in the epic tele-serial ‘Chandrakanta’. Films like Maqbool, Pan Singh Tomar, The Namesake, A Mighty Heart, Slumdog Millionaire, New
York and not to forget Life of Pi
further substantiated his acting abilities and tagged him as one of the hand-picked
actors this industry has to provide.

About the actress Nimrit Kaur, she’s certainly awesome with a very stout
existence on screen. It’s not easy to leave a noteworthy mark especially in the
presence of two biggies, but she’s done a decent job in mitigating her role as Ila. Considering this is her debut film
in a lead role, Nimrit Kaur enticed me with her terrific performance.

What do I say about Nawazuddin Siddiqui! This man has just wooed me
right from the first time I saw him on screen. He has portrayed strong characters
in films like New York, Dev D, Firaaq,
Black Friday, Gangs of Wasseypur I & II, Kahaani, Peepli Live & Talaash.
In TheLunchbox,
he plays Irrfan Khan’s assistant in his office doing a delightful job and flawlessly
complimenting Irrfan Khan. The duo efficaciously crafts a total mystic on
screen carrying the audience in a different domain.

Ila
(Nimrit Kaur) is like any other middle-class Mumbai housewife. Her day starts
early and involves the daily doings like getting her only daughter ready for
school, preparing food for her husband who doesn’t seem to have any interest left
in either Ila or their marriage, laundry, shopping, etc. She’s intensely alone. Call it a blunder, fluke
or sheer fortune, one day the lunchbox is not delivered to her husband but
reaches the desk of Saajan Fernandes
(Irrfan). This lunchbox brings certain passion in this widower’s lonely life. Saajan tastes the flavours of love after
years of depending on the boring mess food. His soul is warmed by this food. Ila realises that the tiffin she so
dearly packs for her husband is had by someone else but is happy to see it all
clean at the end of the day. On the insistence of her neighbouring ‘Aunty’ (It’s just the voice that’s
portrayed and I have a strong feeling it’s of Bharti Achrekar, another noted
actress), she decides to write a note to ‘the other man’ and sends it along
with the lunchbox the next day. Saajan
replies this note and thus begins an exchange of notes on regular basis leading
to a vague bond. Ila and Saajan revive themselves with these
handwritten notes. They decide to give life another chance.

The
film beautifully deals with depression, isolation and unanswered love. TheLunchbox
is also an ode to Mumbai. You peep into the jam-packed local trains, the
over-crowded buses and the busy roads. It displays how gentle relations and ties
are formed amongst the hustle bustle of the city so well-known to us. The film
also takes you in your earlier years while taking a glimpse of certain scenes
from Doordarshan’s Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi
and songs from Saajan.

Full
marks to debutant director Ritesh Batra for generating a world so current yet
so ancient. It’s a decent variation to see two people involving over love
letters than SMS’s and Whatsapp messaging. Ritesh also has a robust grip over
the storyline of the film. There are few sections in the film which are a bit stretched
but you are so captivated into the film’s expressiveness that you overlook
the lengthy parts. Ritesh is aided by a talented star cast who uplifts the film
to, all in all, a diverse level. Adjectives nose-dive when it comes to unfolding
Irrfan’s enactment. He hardly speaks in the film and just lets his body do the
talking. Nimrit Kaur is a discovery. She’s the lash of fresh air that’s so
required in our cinema today. She demonstrates all feelings; love, desire, grief
and delight with copious ease. Her efforts seem graceful.

All
things considered, TheLunchbox is one of the finest films Hindi film industry has created.
It lifts us a notch higher. Do yourself an act of kindness and catch this film.
And you are cautioned… you might be starving for some good home-cooked food and affection
when the end credits roll.

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Hey...it's me!

This blog is my long cherished dream. After a glorious career with a leading software company, I opted for a sabbatical to nurture my Twins and to ensure a childhood they will always cherish.

This is my private space...my dreams...my thoughts! This is my 'me' where I can express what my feelings are...what my dreams are! This is all about what I think and how I perceive the world around me.

You're welcome to give me a pat on a back or a kick through your comments as I believe that it will only enrich my experience!

I still fumble with ideas and thoughts...sometimes, I still find it difficult to express my feelings...I still fall short of words...but it's all worth for! As this is a journey I have decided to embark only to explore my horizons and I am glad that my dreams are my best companions!